Trading his labor for drugs, the construction worker ended up in legal trouble.

Labor in exchange for drugs

Courtroom No. 1 of the Nghe An Provincial People's Court was quite crowded on a summer day. Many people were carrying bags and belongings, their faces showing signs of fatigue and anxiety. When the van sped into the courthouse yard, they rushed after it but were stopped. Their sadness intensified when they saw the defendant, Vi Van Doan (born in 1972), residing in Chau Thon commune, Que Phong district, being escorted into the courtroom. Thin and with dark, tanned skin, Doan gently turned his head to look at his relatives after a long period of detention.

Vi Van Doan is a member of the Thai ethnic group and is illiterate. Living in a mountainous region and with a low level of education, he mainly works manual labor to earn a living and support his family. Besides farming, Doan also works with construction crews on various construction sites.

Besides working on domestic projects, Doan also went to Laos to work as a construction worker. Despite the long distance and difficult travel, thinking of his family and two children gave him extra motivation to work.

In June 2024, Doan completed the construction of a house for a man named Phung in Muong Quan district, Hua Phan province (Lao People's Democratic Republic). During the payment process, Phung still owed 5 million dong in wages and proposed to Doan: "I have 100 grams of methamphetamine, worth 5 million dong. If you take it and sell it, consider it payment for the remaining work I owe." Doan agreed to the offer of payment in drugs.

After reaching an agreement, Phung drove Doan through the forest to return to Vietnam. When they arrived at the stadium area in Tri Le commune, Que Phong district (Nghe An province), Phung told Doan to wait a moment and then went into the forest. A short while later, he returned and gave Doan a package of drugs.

Doan took the drugs home and hid them. On January 1, 2025, a man came to Doan's house to inquire about buying drugs. Vi Van Doan said he had one package of drugs for sale at 5 million dong. The customer agreed to buy it and arranged to pick up the "goods" the next day.

Early the next morning, while Doan was delivering drugs to a customer, he was arrested by the Que Phong district police along with over 91 grams of drugs. For this crime, Doan was prosecuted and brought to trial for the crime of illegally trading narcotics.

Tears of regret

During the questioning by the panel of judges, the defendant did not evade or deny guilt, but gave clear and concise testimony. He stated that he had worked as a construction worker for many years. The job helped him earn money to support his family and raise his wife and children.

During that trip to Laos for work, the defendant earned 35 million dong in wages. The employer paid 30 million dong, leaving a remaining balance of 5 million dong. The employer mentioned they didn't have the money and suggested paying with drugs instead. Because the defendant wanted to keep all of his wages, he agreed when the Laotian man suggested this. The defendant stated that he would take the drugs home for personal use and sell them to anyone who wanted them.

The defendant cited illiteracy and being from an ethnic minority group as reasons to justify his wrongdoing. However, he admitted knowing that drug-related activities were illegal. He expressed remorse and regret for his greed, which had led him to pay a heavy price.

Given the opportunity to speak his final words before the court adjourned to deliberate, the defendant broke down in tears. With a choked voice, he stated that he was fully aware of his wrongdoing. He hoped for leniency from the law so that he could have a chance to correct his mistakes and rebuild his life.

“For many years, I worked diligently to provide for my family. However, due to a moment of recklessness and lack of foresight, I violated the law. Now, I feel extremely remorseful and ashamed, especially when I think of my children,” the defendant said, his voice choking with emotion, his calloused hands trembling as he covered his face and burst into tears in the courtroom.

Facing her husband in court, the wife said almost nothing. Only when the court adjourned for deliberation did she approach him to ask a few questions. In the silent courtroom, tears streamed down the woman's face and the defendant's as well.

Struggling to hold back his tears, Doan apologized to his wife and relatives. From a skilled construction worker, Vi Van Doan became a criminal, sentenced by the court to 17 years in prison for illegally trafficking drugs. As for the man named Phung and the customer who bought the drugs, because the defendant did not know their identities and backgrounds, the authorities had no basis to prosecute them.

A 17-year prison sentence for a construction worker's wages of 5 million dong is a heavy price the defendant has to pay. Hopefully, the years of rehabilitation will help the defendant realize his mistakes and correct his behavior, giving him the opportunity to return to his loved ones and family soon.

Tran Vu